Damage to cars caused by Gritter lorries !
Discussion
With the increase in Gritters on the road on these dark and icy nights, this will again be on the increase.
Has anyone had their cars damaged by Gritters and managed to get some compensation?
If you were going up the Motorway and a Gritter was sitting in lane 2 of 3 doing about 40mph throwing/spreading grit around like marbles, would you overtake?
Has anyone had their cars damaged by Gritters and managed to get some compensation?
If you were going up the Motorway and a Gritter was sitting in lane 2 of 3 doing about 40mph throwing/spreading grit around like marbles, would you overtake?
tonyrec said:
...
If you were going up the Motorway and a Gritter was sitting in lane 2 of 3 doing about 40mph throwing/spreading grit around like marbles, would you overtake?
In the TVR no
, I'd sit on the inside lane a couple of huindered yards back. In the Omegod 
I'd go past 
. Never noticed any damage myself, I'd have to clean it first to see though
. Harry
Had this happen to me in the 80's, after arriving late at night in Dover. Got the front of the car well splattered with grit (felt like pebbles) because the grit wheel was throwing it into the air not down!
1 windshield gone in 3 places, and a LOT of dents in the front end... went to the police in town, gave them the vehicle number and put it through my insurance. After around a year the (german) insurance told me that they'd been paid by the council (either Dover or Kent can't remember which). Important is that it gets a police report!!!
1 windshield gone in 3 places, and a LOT of dents in the front end... went to the police in town, gave them the vehicle number and put it through my insurance. After around a year the (german) insurance told me that they'd been paid by the council (either Dover or Kent can't remember which). Important is that it gets a police report!!!
Nope I don't overtake, sit well back and be patient.
Usually I find these geezers only cover a few junctions and so waiting for them doesn't add much to the overall journey time.
However it is possible to overtake by using off slip > island > on slip. Of course remembering that one is going from gritted to ungritted territory.
Usually I find these geezers only cover a few junctions and so waiting for them doesn't add much to the overall journey time.
However it is possible to overtake by using off slip > island > on slip. Of course remembering that one is going from gritted to ungritted territory.
I have to agree with X5MG. They are a necessary evil. I can deal with the ice but I don't need some numpty who can't, locking up and hitting me.
But N Wales gritter crews seem to have joined the "Oi...its illegal to overtake nowadays " tendency emphasised with 15 spotlights just because I wasn't prepared to sit behind them getting peppered.
I prefer thick snow - it keeps a lot of numpties.... and the talivans.... off the roads full stop.
But N Wales gritter crews seem to have joined the "Oi...its illegal to overtake nowadays " tendency emphasised with 15 spotlights just because I wasn't prepared to sit behind them getting peppered.
I prefer thick snow - it keeps a lot of numpties.... and the talivans.... off the roads full stop.
XM5ER said:
What would you prefer, black ice?
Our local scum bag council dont grit and dont provide grit bins and frankly the roads are lethal.
From the 1st of November this has changed, as now all local authorities are required to take reasonably steps to keep the roads (all roads) clear of ice and snow.
A ruling has now been made in light of the Goodes v Sussex Council in respect of the maintanance of the roads affected by snow and ice, and it will make it easier to sue the local authities for injury and damage sustained as a result of their non compliance.
tonyrec said:
What would you prefer, black ice?
Emof course not. Im nights at the mo and these people are still not driving responsibly...leaving everything down to chance!
Ah! I see what you are getting at, sorry. Think yourselves lucky, we have one of the non-gritting councils, literally only the Mways get done. Bit of a sore point with me.
t-c said:
What would you prefer, black ice?
Our local scum bag council dont grit and dont provide grit bins and frankly the roads are lethal.
From the 1st of November this has changed, as now all local authorities are required to take reasonably steps to keep the roads (all roads) clear of ice and snow.
A ruling has now been made in light of the Goodes v Sussex Council in respect of the maintanance of the roads affected by snow and ice, and it will make it easier to sue the local authities for injury and damage sustained as a result of their non compliance.
Now that IS really good news. I know of a Fife B road that has claimed 3 lives in the last 5 years due to localised icing in "dips" when the road had been left untreated.
Just depends what you call "reasonable steps" though.
MoJo.
It's when they are coming from the other direction (approaching) on a twisty A-Road that's bad. Had that happen one night. I'm sure he hadn't got his spray correctly set as it must have been clearing the road and going over the verges on both sides of the road, plus I had to drive through the shower, all at windscreen height. Luckily no chips.
tonyrec said:
With the increase in Gritters on the road on these dark and icy nights, this will again be on the increase.
Has anyone had their cars damaged by Gritters and managed to get some compensation?
If you were going up the Motorway and a Gritter was sitting in lane 2 of 3 doing about 40mph throwing/spreading grit around like marbles, would you overtake?
No doubt people do get stone chips from gritters. Motorway ones are the worst as they travel at 40mph leaving a large cloud following them.
You would only get a claim if you could prove that the gritter was travelling above the correct speed. All other claims would be refused as 'they were following the correct procedure'.(cant remember the speed for rural roads).
Personally I overtake at the earliest opportunity and hope for the best.
I've not heard of anyone getting a payout for this sort of claim in my 6yrs in the highways maintenance industry. I have heard of them being refused.
tonyrec said:
I have been known to leave the M/way, go over the roundabout and rejoin in *front* of the gritter......
me too, in my youth!
A mate of mine tried this once to get a few cars ahead of me in heavy traffic, but the sliproad back on was closed for roadworks so he had to go right around, back down the opposite way to the next junction to get back up to where he started. PMSL when he turned up half and hour later and told me!
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